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Thursday, 24 July 2014

The Essence of Luxury

At work, I deal with luxury items on a daily basis. I talk and walk luxury, and can only hope that I don't end up breathing luxury. I have access to the most coveted pieces that women swoon over and their men would kill for -- or rather, they would kill their men for if the latter don't deliver.

My luxuries extend to the littlest things such as not being micromanaged, wearing a tiny summer dress and flip-flops on sweltering days, online shopping, and reading and writing during off-peak periods -- all at work. Occasionally, the boss makes me tea. Yes, you read it right. These are lavishness that make the sometimes insufferable daily grind a little bit more bearable.Did I mention having a catnap on a sofa inside my office? I was on my break, by the way. Otherwise, that's abuse of privileges.

via styledemocracy.com

Over the years, my definition of luxury has evolved from my starry-eyed amazement at gilded, window-shopping variety of things with ridiculous prices that don't necessarily reflect aesthetics, to the search for aspirational intangible measures that can command the highest price tags should they ever be retailed.Trouble is, they can't be purchased. You can chase them, but their reputation for elusiveness will leave you catching your breath out of frustration. Like vouchers, once lost, they cannot be redeemed. And once gone or spent, they can't be retrieved or reversed.

In this day and age when the purchasing power of social classes is no longer demarcated by a pronounced disparity (except still with big-ticket items such as a house), anyone with enough means can have a piece of something that used to be exclusive to the moneyed lot.

The most desirable though are never on display. They don't have a set price but their worth is inestimable, and their value is measured against substance more than just quality.

These are some things money can't buy and everything else that MasterCard can't cover.

Luxury is...

Freedom

via livefulloutnow.com

When your decisions aren't constantly based on limited resources and restrictive grown person's life requirements which involve both time and money for the former, and a job, mortgage/rent, bills, and debt for the latter (some would probably even say partner and children), then you are amongst the very lucky ones who can afford to take unpaid time off work -- at your convenience -- to travel or maybe go back to school or just simply take a break, and you still won't get the bailiff knocking on your door. Who wouldn't want to take the next exit?

Time

via timeanddate.com

To stretch it . Or be able to put to good use what you're served. Time is the one thing you can spend and save and it enriches your life both ways. Of all the intangible luxuries, time is the leveler as we all are entitled to exactly the same amount, but some get to allot theirs to activities we all would rather indulge ourselves in. . .if only we had the time.

Youth

via aeroarts.co.uk

It's not so much the physical youth as the youthfulness of your points of view in life that eventually matters. The idea that you can do anything and there's so much more ahead of you despite the niggling thought that you're past your sell-by date is hard to come by when you have lots of responsibilities on your plate. The fountain of youth sits on our mind and is waiting to be tapped.

Second Chance

via happysomeone.com

If nature's gracious enough to grant you one, it's a sin not to take it. Close your eyes, breathe, and just give it a go.

True Love

via healthychat.co.uk

I would never ever admit that I'm a romantic. Well, there, I just did. The concept of true love for me is never overrated. But I speak of true love in whatever shape and form. It's not just about that special person in your life. It could be your passion, that place you'd love to live in, your home, your dreams. It's luxury to feel settled where there's no gap left to entertain the buts, what-ifs, could-haves and would-haves.

Rest

via northrup.org

Totally underrated. Sometimes, hammock days are well deserved. Or, maybe just an undisturbed peace and quiet in your little corner.

Friends and Family Within Reach

via someecards.com

I'm very lucky to live, work, and play in a city whose desirability factor can rival that of New York's and Paris's. But there's a trade-off: I'm miles away from my family and closest friends. As I don't have the freedom to see all of them as much as I would love to, the unsettling feeling I speak of crawls in. Technology and social networks have virtually placed them cheek by jowl with me, but I long for their physical presence. It's such a luxury to see them once or twice a year. Some I had not seen for at least a decade. And I do wonder if I'd last another decade seeing them only via my mobile or computer screen.

Luck

via lifehack.org

Some people have grasped the art of being in the right place at the right time. Those who slam fate say that you make your own luck. It would be a privilege to have a brush with some then and be able to tweak it to your advantage. After all, we can all do with some help.

Ahhh yes...... intangible luxury - well I strive for it (funny actually because I was just writing about one aspect of it on my blog - retirement) but I haven't achieved it yet, so until I do I have to substitute it with tangible luxury items instead; I guess I don't have to tell you what they are.

Interestingly enough I have a big project starting in September which really is going to zap my intagible luxuries so for the next month I'm going to try and enjoy the things money can't buy. I hope you can and do too. Have a lovely weekend.

What's with the anonymous thing? I thought an admirer left a comment. Hahahaha. Of course, I can name all your tangible luxuries :D I can't wait for the launch of your September project. Goodluck! Have a lovely weekend x

An interesting, thought-provoking post. I think you have covered the luxuries which I value particularly time! I do feel that travel is a luxury too. Having the opportunity to visit places around the world learning about new cultures and cuisines is definitely a luxury.

This was indeed an interesting read. Sounds like you have a great job, even though you are far from family, but like my papa always says "we are just a fllight away!" I never thought that travelling as much was a luxury because we had to do it and move so much, since I was younger, but the older I got I realised that it is quite a priviledge. I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. :)Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my post! /Madison

THE NUTTER BEHIND THIS IS. . .

Unravelling life when not dozing off during my train ride...
A book-sniffing pessoptimist restrained thinking introvert (those Facebook-sponsored personality tests can get quite addictive), I'm happy to engineer things in the background to avoid the limelight. I love lakes, rivers, G&T, and independent magazines. I went from aspiring to be a majorette when I was little to a forensic pathologist when I realised that white knee-high boots aren't chic. Sunrise, sunset, dawn and midnight, horror flicks, crime TV shows, libraries, museums, new books, black roll neck, jasmine green tea, dry shampoo, dancing, full moon, wintry beaches, mountain views, history, black and white photos, chandeliers, silence, alone time, red lipstick: these are a few of my favourite things.